Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G51/00—Conveying articles through pipes or tubes by fluid flow or pressure; Conveying articles over a flat surface, e.g. the base of a trough, by jets located in the surface
  • B65G51/02—Directly conveying the articles, e.g. slips, sheets, stockings, containers or workpieces, by flowing gases
  • B65G51/03—Directly conveying the articles, e.g. slips, sheets, stockings, containers or workpieces, by flowing gases over a flat surface or in troughs
  • B65G51/035—Directly conveying the articles, e.g. slips, sheets, stockings, containers or workpieces, by flowing gases over a flat surface or in troughs for suspended articles, e.g. bottles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G2201/00—Indexing codes relating to handling devices, e.g. conveyors, characterised by the type of product or load being conveyed or handled
  • B65G2201/02—Articles
  • B65G2201/0235—Containers
  • B65G2201/0244—Bottles

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for conveying objects such as, in particular, bottles, flasks or the like. However, although more particularly intended for such applications, it may also be intended, in general, for any object having an end provided with a protuberance.
• said bottles are propelled by an air jet acting at their neck.
• the corresponding devices generally include a blowing chamber and a support rail.
• the blowing chamber is supplied by fans and makes it possible to compress the air introduced, the latter then being projected towards the neck of the bottles by means of slots, provided on the surface of said blowing chamber.
• the structure of said slots makes it possible to orient the projected air flow and thus ensure the transport of the bottles in the desired direction.
• the support rail cooperates with a protrusion provided at the neck of the conveyed bottles and participates in their guidance. It is generally attached to the underside of the blowing chamber, also called an apron.
• said blowing chamber is in one piece and numerous members are attached on its different faces such as, for example, supporting frames of said device, lateral guides facilitating the guiding of the bottles at their bodies, cheeks, protecting said bottles along their path, and / or others.
• blowing chambers are monobloc and are therefore not easily accessible.
• said blowing chambers derive their rigidity from the direct assembly of their walls with one another or by the use of a sheet folded in inverted U, closed at its base by the deck which then defines a base.
• the structure of the latter is often stiffened in order to allow the support, as previously mentioned, of ancillary devices such as lateral guides, protective cheeks or the like.
• Said deck is therefore not easily removable and does not allow the operator to be able to carry out maintenance operations inside the blowing chambers, at least without risking disturbing the installation. Consequently, said blowing chambers cannot, in particular, be easily quickly cleaned while, in the fields in which said devices are used, namely in particular the food industry, hygiene requirements are increasingly higher.
• Another drawback of such devices is that they are not very modular. Also, for an intervention to be carried out on one of their organs, for example, one of the walls of the blowing chamber, they often require a resumption of the entire installation and / or cause the adjustment of neighboring organs, for example, that of the lateral guides. It can also be noted that the currently known devices have many points, in particular of screws and bolts, which can for example to allow accumulation of dirt.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a device for conveying by blowing which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and facilitates assembly, adjustment, maintenance and / or cleaning.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for conveying by blowing, the blowing chamber of which is easily accessible, in particular in order to facilitate its cleaning, without risking disrupting it.
• Another object of the present invention is to propose a device for conveying by blowing which makes it possible to intervene, for example, on its blowing chamber, without altering the settings, in particular those of its possible lateral guides.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for conveying by blowing, the settings of which are simplified both during installation and during operation, in particular in the event of a profile change of the objects transported.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for conveying by blowing facilitating the use of a cheek of protection of transported objects.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for conveying by blowing which does not have an area which can cause retention of dirt, in particular of visible fastenings.
• the present invention relates to a device for conveying objects such as, in particular, bottles, flasks or the like, having a protuberance at their neck, comprising a blowing chamber, allowing the projection of an air flow capable of entraining said objects, and a support rail, cooperating with said objects at said protuberance, characterized in that said chamber consists of a body and an apron, removable relative to said body, said support rail being subject to said apron .
• the present invention also relates to a device for conveying objects such as, in particular, bottles, flasks or the like, having a protuberance at their neck, comprising a blowing chamber, allowing the projection of an air flow suitable for drive said objects and a support rail, capable of cooperating with said objects at the level of their protrusion, characterized in that it is provided with at least two support beams provided on either side of said device along said chamber blowing and said rail.
• the present invention also relates to a device for conveying objects such as, in particular, bottles, flasks or the like, having a protuberance at their neck, comprising a blowing chamber, allowing the projection of an air flow suitable for drive said objects, a support rail capable of cooperating with said objects at their protuberance, and lateral guides capable of promoting the transport of said objects, characterized in that said lateral guides consist of at least one guide ramp , provided along said device facing the body of said objects, and of support rods of said ramp, said rods and said ramp cooperating with each other at least by articulation in rotation so as to adjust the transverse position of said ramp relative to said objects.
• FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the conveying device according to the invention
• FIG. 2 illustrates, in the same view, a second embodiment of the conveying device according to the invention
• FIG. 3 illustrates, in section, in a half view from above the principle of articulation of the lateral guides possibly used in the conveyor device according to the invention
• FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the lateral guides possibly used in the conveying device according to the invention.
• the present invention relates to a device for conveying objects such as, in particular, bottles, flasks or the like. However, although more particularly intended for such applications, it may also be intended, in general, for any object provided with an end having a protuberance.
• the conveying device makes it possible to transport objects 1 having a protrusion 2, in particular annular, at their neck
• said device comprises a blowing chamber 4, allowing the projection of an air flow capable of driving said objects 1, according to the desired conveying direction. It also includes a support rail 5, cooperating with said objects 1 at their protuberance 2, said support rail 5 being oriented in said conveying direction.
• said objects 1, directed substantially vertically, are thus transferred under said blowing chamber 4, for example from a shaping installation to a filling installation.
• Said blowing chamber 4 has, in particular, at its lower face a channel 6 provided with slots, for example on its side walls. Said slots, not shown in Figures 1 and 2, are capable of allowing the projection of said air flow towards the neck 3 of the objects 1, the latter circulating in said channel.
• Said support rail 5 consists, in particular, of two upper ramps 30, made of plastic and / or stainless steel which, with the air flow oriented, makes it possible to guide said objects 1 along their path.
• said chamber 4 consists of a body 7 and an apron 8, removable relative to said body 7.
• Said support rail 5 is secured to said apron 8, the latter also defining, in particular, said channel 6.
• the blowing chamber 4 is thus easily accessible, by dismantling said apron 8, and its cleaning and the removal of the products used for this purpose are simplified.
• the device according to the invention also comprises means 10 for sealing the connection between said deck 8 and said body 7.
• Said blowing chamber 4 is provided, for example, substantially quadrangular and said body 7 consists, in particular, of two lateral sides 11, 12 and of a cover 13.
• Said body 7 is provided frame.
• said lateral flanks 11, 12 are, for example stiffened and said body 7 comprises support crosspieces 9, integral with said lateral flanks 11, 12.
• Said support sleepers 9 are, for example, provided regularly spaced along the blowing chamber 4, in the conveying direction of the objects 1.
• Said stiffened lateral flanks 11, 12 comprise, in particular, two longitudinal members 14, 15, provided laterally along said body 7, and / or a reinforcing reinforcement, consisting of arches 27, regularly spaced in the same direction.
• Said beams 14, 15 thus play the role of longitudinal reinforcements and said side walls 50, 51 may, consequently, only serve to maintain the tightness of the blowing chamber 4.
• said stiffened sides 11, 12 have, for example provided in the mass, stiffening wings, arranged laterally along the device. That said, said means 10 for ensuring the seal are constituted, in particular, by said beams 14, 15, provided integral in a sealed manner with said body 7, and / or by seals 16, provided along said deck 8, suitable for cooperate, for example, with said beams 14, 15.
• the seals 16 are provided on the longitudinal edges of said deck 8 and, according to the particular embodiment illustrated, said longitudinal members 14, 15 have at least one groove 17, suitable for receiving said seals 16. Said body 7 is sandwiched between said stringers 14,
• Said body 7 possibly has a cover 13, between its lateral flanks 11, 12, and said arches 27 are subject, for example, to said cover 13.
• the latter is possibly provided in a U shape and thus defines a chute 26 between said lateral flanks 11, 12, of said body 7.
• Said chute 26 may allow, in particular, to accommodate different electric and / or other cables and be closed at its upper part.
• Said hoop 27 runs along, in particular, the side walls 50, 51 of the body 7 and has attachment points 35 with said cover 13.
• Said attachment points 35 may also serve, optionally, as points for holding the device on the ceiling of the room in which it is installed, in particular by means of rods, not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
• said deck 8 is secured to said cross member 9, removably, in particular by means of at least one screw 24 and, advantageously, by means of two said screws 24, offset with respect to the axis of symmetry 25 of the objects to be conveyed, in order to avoid impacts at the level of the upper region of the neck.
• Said screws 24 are provided, in particular at the level of channel 6 in which circulates the neck 3 of said objects 1, provided in the middle part of said deck 8.
• Said support crosspieces 9 are constituted, for example, by a lower branch closing said hoop 27.
• the deck 8 is subject to the lateral flanks 11, 12, by means of brackets 53, 54. More specifically, two brackets 53, 54 are, for example, subject to lateral sides 11, 12 by means of bolted threaded rods and said deck 8 is subject to said brackets 53, 54 by means of the same kind. Said cross member 9 is, for example, provided straight. The precision of its dimensions can thus be improved and the assembly / disassembly of the simplified apron 8.
• the device according to the invention further comprises, for example, lateral guides 19, in particular consisting of at least one guide ramp 20, provided along said device, facing with respect to the body of said objects 1 and to the support rods 31 of said guide ramp 20.
• the transverse position of said guide ramps 20 is, for example, adjustable in the direction of the arrows marked 21 while the vertical position of said ramps 20 is , for example, adjustable in the direction of the arrows marked 22.
• said support rods 31 and said guide ramp 20 cooperate with one another by articulation in rotation to ensure the adjustment of the transverse position of said ramp guiding 20 relative to said objects 1, in particular as a function of the horizontal section of the latter.
• said side guides 19 and said apron 8 are independent and thus allow access after disassembly of said apron 8 inside said blowing chamber 4 without risking to adjust said side guides 19, this saving time when of the interview.
• said lateral guides 19 as well as, optionally, the other annexed members provided such as, for example, protective cheeks 36, indicator panels, devices for stopping objects to be conveyed or the like, are transferred to the stiffened lateral flanks 11 , 12. Said deck 8 thus no longer supports, for example, that said rail 5.
• the present structure makes it possible to reinforce the robustness of the device and, in particular, to avoid the adjustment of the upper ramps 30 constituting the rail 5.
• brackets 53, 54 are, for example, made of relatively flexible material.
• Said beams 14, 15 are thus, for example, capable of supporting said lateral guides 19. To this end, they are provided, in particular, with housings 23 by means of which said lateral guides 19 are subject to said beams 14, 15 at the level of the upper ends of the support rods 31.
• said beams 14, 15 make it possible both to ensure the seal between the body 7 and the removable deck 8, by means of said grooves 17, as well as to support, in particular, said lateral guides 19, independently of said removable deck 8, thanks to said housing 23.
• said beams 14, 15, said arches 27, said brackets 53, 54 and / or said cross member 9 are subject to each other, in particular, by means of a screw-nut system in which the head of the screw cooperates with at least one housing 34, provided in said longitudinal members 14,
• the invention also relates to a conveying device as described above, that is to say comprising a blowing chamber 4, allowing the projection of an air flow capable of driving said objects 1, and a support rail 5, able to cooperate with said objects 1 at their protuberance 2, said device being characterized in that it is provided with at least two said support beams 14, 15, provided on either side of said device along said blowing chamber 4 and of said rail 5.
• Said support beams 14, 15 thus make the device according to the invention modular by making it possible to accommodate its different elements independently of each other.
• blowing chamber 4 strengthen the longitudinal rigidity of the blowing chamber 4 and allow the use for its side walls 50, 51, for example, less thick sheets.
• the device comprises, for example, an apron 8 to which said rail 5 is subjected and, according to the illustrated embodiments, said blowing chamber 4 and / or said apron 8 are subject directly or indirectly to said rails 14, 15.
• said apron 8 constitutes the lower face of the blowing chamber 4, the latter comprising, in addition, at least one body 7.
• Said body 7 comprises at least, in particular, two lateral flanks 11, 12 and a cover 13.
• Said beams 14, 15 are further capable, for example, of accommodating support armatures of said device, by the ground and / or by the ceiling, not shown, lateral guides 19, intended to facilitate the transport of said objects 1, and / or cheeks 36, intended to protect said objects
• Said beams are provided outside said blowing chamber 4, for example at the level of the lower edge of its lateral flanks 11, 12.
• first housing 34 capable of allowing the introduction of first means for securing said beams 14, 15 with said blowing chamber 4
• second housing 32 capable of allowing the introduction of second means of securing of said beams 14, 15 and said support frames
• third housing 23 capable of allowing the introduction of third means of securing said beams 14, 15 with said lateral guides 19 and / or different bodies for regulating the flow of objects 1 .
• Said first, second and third housings 34, 32, 23 are, for example, provided longitudinally along said longitudinal members, that is to say all along the conveying device according to the invention.
• Said first, second and third securing means consist, in particular of a screw-nut system, the head of said screws being provided in said housings 34, 32, 23.
• Said beams 14, 15 may also optionally have a groove 33 , able to allow the embedding of said cheeks 36.
• said longitudinal members 14, 15 consist of an aluminum profile, possibly substantially quadrangular, for example hollow.
• the first housing 34 is provided on their side face opposite the blowing chamber 4
• the second housing 32 is provided on their other side face
• said third housing 23 and said groove 33 are provided on their underside.
• said beams 14, 15 have an upper face, possibly smooth and curved outwards and downwards, so as to avoid the accumulation of dirt at this level.
• Said beams 14, 15 are also provided, optionally, with a centering orifice 55 making it possible to ensure their longitudinal alignment by means of centering pins, not illustrated.
• said second housing 32 can be used to further reinforce this alignment thanks to fishplates, not shown, provided at each junction. It can also be used, if necessary, to accommodate means for supporting ancillary devices such as, for example, indicator panels, devices for stopping conveyed objects and / or others.
• the device according to the invention comprises, as mentioned above, lateral guides 19. These latter consist, in particular, of at least one guide ramp 20, provided along of said device facing the body of said objects 1 and of support rods 31 of said ramp 20. said support rods 31 are provided, for example, regularly spaced and are secured in the side members 14, 15 at said third housing 23 .
• the invention also relates to a conveying device as described above, namely, comprising a blowing chamber 4 allowing the projection of an air flow capable of driving said objects 1, a support rail 5, suitable to cooperate with said objects 1 at their protuberance 2, and lateral guides 19, capable of promoting the transport of said objects 1, said device being characterized in that said lateral guides 19 consist of at least one guide ramp 20, provided along said device facing the body of said objects 1, and support rods 31 of said ramp 20.
• the device according to the invention comprises, for example, two said guide ramps 20 arranged on one side and on the other side of the body of said objects 1 with a slight residual clearance. Said support rods 31 are, in particular regularly spaced along said device.
• said rods 31 and said ramp 20 cooperate with each other at least by articulation in rotation, in particular according to the arrows marked 56, 57.
• Said guides thus make it possible to easily ensure the adjustment of the transverse position, according to the arrow marked 21, of said ramp 20, relative to said objects.
• the distance between said guide ramps 20 is adapted to the size of the objects 1, the transported, as shown according to the lines shown in dotted lines, while the support rods 31 or all at least a part of said support rods 31 remains in the same position.
• the adjustment of the angular position of one of the support rods 31 allows, by means of the displacement generated by the corresponding guide ramp 20, to simultaneously drive the other said support rods 31 cooperating with said ramp 20.
• the development of the device can thus be carried out more quickly.
• the vertical position of said guide rails 20 can also, optionally, be adjusted.
• the latter are thus mobile, for example, in translation along said supports 31, in particular along the arrow marked 22.
• said support rods 31 can be articulated in rotation around substantially vertical axes 59 and said ramp guide 20 is articulated in rotation relative to axes 60, also substantially vertical, eccentric with respect to said axes of rotation 59 of rods 31 and integral with said rods 31.
• Said axes 59, 60 are thus, in particular substantially parallel.
• Said guide rails 20 and their support rod 31 can therefore be adjusted, for example, at the time of installation of the device and / or between each change of types of objects 1 to be transported.
• said guide ramps 20 and their support rod 31 are naturally locked in position.
• said support rods 31 of said lateral guides 19 are in the form of a U.
• One of the branches 61 of said U is located along said axis of rotation 59 while the other 62 is located along said eccentric axis 60 and ensures the vertical positioning of said guide ramp 20, free to rotate about said branch 62.
• One 61 of the branches of the U may be longer than the other 62 and the lateral guides 19 are then in the form of a butt.
• Said guide rails 20 consist, for example, of ball joints 63, cooperating with said rods 31, in which slide a guide rod 64, provided along the trajectory of said objects 1.
• said lateral guides are, for example, of ball joints 63, cooperating with said rods 31, in which slide a guide rod 64, provided along the trajectory of said objects 1.
• blowing chamber 4 More specifically, said blowing chamber 4 is provided quadrangular and said lateral guides 19 are supported, for example, by the inner face and / or the lateral faces of said blowing chamber 4.
• said lateral guides 19 are supported by beams 14, 15, possibly provided in the device according to the invention on either side of said rail 5 along said chamber of blowing 4.
• said support rods 31 are suitable, for example, for supporting the cheeks 36, intended to protect said objects along their trajectory.
• the device according to the invention comprises, in particular, supporting frames 65 of said cheeks 36 cooperating with said rods 31 by means of flanges 66 in which said rods 31 are free to rotate.
• said rods 31 are capable, furthermore, possibly, of supporting a second lateral guide rod 67, for example, by means of a link 68, articulated in rotation, on the one hand, around said rods 31, more particularly of their branch 61, and, on the other hand, of said second rod 67.
• a piston jack 69 attached to a fixed part of the device, controls the rotation, according to the arrow marked 70, of said link 68 around said branch 61.
• the spacing of said second rods 67 can thus be adjusted and allows, during operation, while the spacing of the first rods 64 is fixed, to authorize a modulation of the lateral guidance to adapt it, for example, to a bottle from one liter to a bottle, less wide, of half a liter and vice versa.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Framework For Endless Conveyors (AREA)
• Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
• Discharge Of Articles From Conveyors (AREA)
• Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
• Special Conveying (AREA)
• Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)
• Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
• Attitude Control For Articles On Conveyors (AREA)
• Cameras Adapted For Combination With Other Photographic Or Optical Apparatuses (AREA)
• Labeling Devices (AREA)
• Chain Conveyers (AREA)

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Family Applications (1)

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Citations (9)

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• 1997
  • 1997-10-17 CA CA002268782A patent/CA2268782C/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-10-17 DE DE69709943T patent/DE69709943T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-10-17 CN CN97180541A patent/CN1121342C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-10-17 BR BR9711951-2A patent/BR9711951A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-10-17 EP EP97911281A patent/EP0932569B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-10-17 JP JP10519026A patent/JP2000513688A/ja active Pending
  • 1997-10-17 ES ES97911281T patent/ES2171907T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-10-17 WO PCT/FR1997/001856 patent/WO1998017557A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1997-10-17 AU AU48715/97A patent/AU738215B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1997-10-17 US US09/331,384 patent/US6332740B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-10-17 AT AT97911281T patent/ATE211711T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-10-17 DK DK97911281T patent/DK0932569T3/da active
  • 1997-10-17 PT PT97911281T patent/PT932569E/pt unknown

Patent Citations (9)

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